Digital communication of captured three-dimensional object over a network

Abstract

The three-dimensional imaging system providing distribution over a distributed network. A low-cost convenient three-dimensional imaging system having a digitizer and orientation fixture which automatically acquires and calibrates to each other. Automatic acquisition and calibration provide vastly improved ease of use. The system interfaces with a distributed network, such that authorization for operation and/or access to data captured may be controlled at a remote node on the distributed network.

1 . A system comprising: 
 a capture module to drive a capture unit to capture three-dimensional data about a physical object; and    a communications module integrated with the capture module to communicate the three-dimensional (3D) data over a distributed network.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the distributed network is the Internet.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional data comprises three-dimensional geometry and surface image data that represents the physical object.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the capture module automatically captures three-dimensional data from multiple aspects of the physical object.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a modeling module to automatically assemble and render a three-dimensional model based on the three-dimensional data.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communications module automatically sends a representation of the three-dimensional data over the distributed network responsive to an external event.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the three-dimensional capture unit.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication is managed by a server node attached to the distributed network.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the 3D data is stored for some period of time on more than one resource on the distributed network.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication of the 3D data can be performed by more than one node attached to the distributed network.  
     
     
         11 . A method comprising: 
 driving a capture of three dimensional data about a physical object from a capture module; and    communicating the three-dimensional data captured over a distributed from a communication module integrated with the capture module.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the three-dimensional data comprises both three-dimensional geometry and surface image data that represents the physical object.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 rendering a three-dimensional model from the three-dimensional data.